Trainer Danny Romo's Bettor On Than Off snuffed out the pacesetter's flame in the driving rain on Friday, July 31 for a Truro Raceway triple in the featured Winners Over Handicap Pace.
With Robert Laffin in the bike, Bettor On Than Off fired off the gate from his outside post assignment in Friday's $2,500 feature and tucked into the two-hole into the backstretch as Truro newcomer Sectionline Flame and Keith Legge left hard from an inner post and cut a :26.4 opening panel in the pouring rain, followed by middle splits of :56.1 and 1:25.3. With the outside movers unable to make much headway, Robert Laffin angled Bettor On Than Off out for the stretch drive and extinguished Sectionline Flame's hopes, going by the mare to win in 1:54 flat by 1-1/2 lengths. Finishing eight lengths behind, Fifth Estate and Ernie Laffin rounded out the top three in the field of five as the longest shot on the board at 60-1.
Bettor On Than Off, now as winner of three in a row and five of his last six starts, was the overwhelming 1-9 favourite and paid $2.30 to win and $2.10 to place, with no show wagering. Winning for the 22nd time in his career spanning 76 races, the seven-year-old Bettors Delight-Lights Go Out gelding was just one-fifth of a second off his lifetime mark established a week ago.
Romo swept the late Daily Double as three-year-old filly Saulsbrook Desbi ($3.80) won the next race in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.3 with Legge in the driver's seat.
In addition to winning the feature, Robert Laffin drove veteran pacer Privilege ($8.20), who held on by a nose in 1:58.1 for the first victory of his 10-year-old campaign, as one of four Friday winners from the stable of Truro's perennial leading trainer George Rennison.
Other winners on the nine-race card trained by Rennison included five-year-old pacer Howmac Powerball ($2.90), driven by Darren Crowe, three-year-old filly Rose Knows Money ($2.30) and six-year-old mare Midnight Love ($5.20), both driven by Legge.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)